Canny Granny's Advice to the Young

 My little dog is on a lead. I allow him to explore his environment, I allow him to stop and sniff and to meet other dogs.  When we walk along the pathway known as the Old Railway Track I allow him more freedom.  I do not allow him off the lead because he does not know me very well yet and perhaps he would run away and not come back to me and then he would not be safe.  When we walk beside the road I shorten his lead and keep him close to me.  Sometimes he is frightened by big lorries passing by.  Then I speak gently to him and tell him he is safe.   For me all this is a wonderful picture of how God cares for us.  The restrictions he places on us are for our own good and for our safety and even to make us feel safe. He let's us explore life.  He doesn't keep us in a cage.  But he watches over us and gently, but firmly pulls us to himself when we are in danger. When life throws frightening situations our way He is there with a gentle whi...

 Recently I've been taking a little dog for a walk each morning.  He's not mine but I enjoy doing this without the full responsibility of owning a dog. I've learnt many lessons from these walks and I want to share them with you. First of all this little dog needs to be on a lead. This is really for his safety.  Of course I would not be happy if he ran away and so I keep him on a lead.  He pulls against the lead, but if he would just stay in step with me he would not even know that the lead was there.  He would be free.  It seems to me that this is how we are in relation to God.  He puts us on a lead, his commandments and if we keep them we are free, our lives work perfectly,  but just like that little dog we pull away. It is in our very nature to want to break the rules.  If there is a sign saying "Keep off the grass!" What do we want to do? We want to walk on it.  If we see a sign saying, "Wet paint!" we want to touch it. It is easier t...

  It was time for me to stop chattering on, thinking I knew so much and could teach the World how to believe.  Just like everyone else I have had a time of thinking things through. Suddenly the world changed over night and we were left alone with our own thoughts.  What IS the meaning of life? What really matters to me? How important is family? How important are friends and those people who are more than acquaintances? Can I live without them?   I'm beginning to realize how isolated I had become.  Most of my meals were alone, that is before Covid. We crazily live our lives in isolation and find that this means throwing away so much good food because you can't eat a whole cauliflower on your own before it's too far gone.  A tin of baked beans is too much for one and you don't fancy sardines on toast two days running. Life is built around being together, even if it's only two of you.  You don't have to live in the same house, you can share with a neighbo...

We see Mary at the cross. Jesus although suffering greatly on the cross tenderly asks His disciple John to take care of Mary as if she was his own mother and tells Mary to treat John as her son. Mary is with the disciples at the time of the resurrection and also at the Ascension and Pentecost. From then till end of the Bible through all the epistles of Paul, Peter and John, James and Jude there is no mention of Mary. There is mention of a Mary in the book of a Romans but there is no reason to believe that this is Mary the mother of Jesus. There is reason to believe that the James and Jude who wrote epistles were children of Mary and Joseph, but they do not mention her. Mary was a lovely woman who was obedient to God but she should not be elevated to the position many put her in. She should not be prayed to, because only God should be given our prayers. By God I mean, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The Bible gives only examples of prayer to God except where non-bel...

Now we are looking at John 2: 1- 11. Jesus, the disciples and Mary are at a wedding. Mary tells Jesus that the wine has run out, an embarrassment for the hosts. Jesus says, “Dear woman why involve me, my time has not yet come” He is the one in charge. Mary then says to the servants at the feast, “Whatever He tells you to do. Do it.” I believe this is what she would want us to do, to do whatever her Son tells us to do. She does not say whatever she says He will do as some say, but we are to do whatever He says.

Luke 2: 40- 52. This is the account we are looking at today. Here the family go to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. It seems that it was the usual thing for many families to travel together and naturally the children would have spent much of the time together. You would have thought that Mary and Joseph would have checked that Jesus was with them before leaving for home, but no they travelled for a whole day before looking for him. They then went back to Jerusalem and it took three days before they found him. They found Jesus in the temple courts talking to the teachers and asking them questions. Mary worried but no doubt relieved, but also astonished says,”Son why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” He answers ,”Why were you searching for me ? Didn’t you knowI had to be in my Father’s house?” These are not the petulant words of a near teenager but a gentle rebuke to rather negligent parents who should have known that He would be...

Jesus was talking to his disciples, the twelve and others when He was told that His mother and brothers were outside wanting to see Him.  His response was to say, "Who is my mother and who are my brothers?" And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said,"Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother." Matthew 12: 46-50 I'm sure Jesus had the normal respect of a son for a mother but here he makes clear that she was on a level with anyone who is His follower. We can admire her faith in God but we may not exalt her above other christians. Next time we will look at an account we have of when Jesus was 12 years old. Luke 2: 40- 52. If you read it now remember this that Jesus is the Son of God and never did anything wrong.  If Jesus ever did anything wrong we are all doomed, but He did no wrong and if you put your trust in Him alone you will be saved.  Whoever honours the Son honou...

Again let me remind you that all my information about Mary comes from the Bible. In (Ot матфея) Matthew 12:46-49 we read on one occasion that Jesus was teaching His followers when someone said that His mother Mary and His brothers were outside the building asking to see Him. (I will have something to add about this later.) In chapter 13:55 and 56 the brothers are named as ,James,Joses, Simon and Judas and there are sisters mentioned too. Again these brothers and sisters are spoken of in Mark 6 verse 3 (от марка). From this we can see that the Bible records that Mary had other children after she had Jesus, undoubtedly the children of Joseph. She did not remain a virgin. These are important facts to take in. None of this is dishonouring to Mary. She was given a specific task, to carry and give birth to God’s Son, once that task was done what more natural than to lead a fulfilling life with Joseph who had stood by her when everyone else thought the worst of her. Mary deserves our respect ...

I realize that what I am saying about Mary is in conflict with all you have been taught.  I am doing this not to upset you but to give you what the Bible teaches about Mary. I believe it is vitally important to get our beliefs from the Bible and nowhere else.  I want you to know these truths and most of all to know that only Jesus can make you acceptable to God. So let's look at the next point, the one of Mary's virginity.  This I believe wholeheartedly and would turn you to Luke chapter one to read about this.  But Mary's virginity is limited in time until some time after the birth of her firstborn son.  Take a look at (от Матфея) Matthew chapter 1 verses 19 -25 Here we find out Joseph's part in the story.  He was betrothed to Mary but they had not come together, that is they had not had sex.  Joseph is very upset to find she is pregnant but it is then that an angel explains to him that Mary is with child by the Holy Spirit and he is told to marry her...

This is a very tricky subject because I know I will upset many people by tackling it.  First let me say that everything I say to you is based only on what the Bible says.  I do believe that Mary was the virgin mother of Jesus and that Jesus was fully man and fully God.  Many people say that Mary was sinless but I can show you that she herself denied this.  She said,"My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour" Read this in Luke (от Лука) 1:46,47. A sinless person does not need a Saviour, but Mary said that God was her Saviour. I have often said that if it was possible to be miserable in heaven then Mary would be the most sad person there, because people often honour her above Jesus.  She would be crying everyday at this . Jesus was her son but also her Saviour. I have many things to add to this but we will take it a step at a time.  Ask the Holy Spirit to help you as you consider these things.  Ask Him to lead you into t...

In Britain we describe two kinds of people. The pessimists who say their glass is half empty and the optimists who delight in the fact that their’s is still half full. They both have the same circumstances in life but see them from completely different perspectives.   I am definitely a glass half full person. I recently said to my daughter what a blessed life I have had and that I don’t seem to have the problems that other people have. She laughed, in a kindly way and reeled off a list of problems I had encountered in life. Yes I am definitely a half full glass sort of person. Are you? Jesus promises to bring us through our problems. Not around them or over them, or having none. It is the problems he brings us through that strengthen and shape us for His glory. When you know Him you soon find that your glass is not just half full, but running over.

I don’t think any of us want to go viral if that means Covid19! I was talking to Jesus about this little blog of mine. I said, “ Lord it’s not exactly going viral.” On a good week about 10 people might visit. But then I said to the Lord, “ So long as the right people are reading it Lord and they are helped to get closer to you that’s fine by me, because I know that You know what you are doing.” So if you’re reading this just remember who put it before your eyes, not a canny granny, but Jesus Himself. Jesus works in amazing ways to bring His sheep home. Maybe He’s calling you.

The sale of freezers at the beginning of the panic-edemic  soared. If you bought one for that reason I would turn you to the Bible, Luke’s gospel chapter 12 verses 13 -21. After a short introduction Jesus speaks of a rich farmer who had a bumper harvest and decided to pull down his old barns and build bigger ones to hold all his harvest. He decided then to retire and live off his wealth. But he had forgotten God. And God called him a fool because that very night he would die and would have to leave behind all his goods. If you thought that there was going to be a famine, surely you must have realized that civilisation could break down to such an extent that the electricity supply would break down. Or did you buy a generator too. Aha where would the fuel come from? The only answer is to turn to God. It is He who has supplied everything you ever needed. And the only thing you ever needed was God. Stop frantically rushing around to find toilet rolls and get on your knees to God befor...

We hear the word pandemic and we are plunged into panic and despair. But why? Nothing has changed, we are no nearer to the time of our death and no further away. For God chose the time of our death long before we were born and it will not change. The politicians speak of people dying before their time, but this is not so. God has planned every death whether from Covid19 or something else. He is sovereign, you can’t slip any deaths past Him, He has it all under His wonderful control. This is why the Christian should safely trust in his Maker. Not only your death but each breath of your life is planned by Him. When you have a “bad” day realise it was not a bad day but the day God planned for you and maybe it was a restful day to give you the energy for your next “good” day. God makes no mistakes and even takes our mistakes and uses them the way He pleases. A realisation of these things makes for a contented life in all circumstances. Underneath are the everlasting arms.

Everyone experiences fear when faced with something as threatening as the Coronavirus. Then as a Christian one feels guilty for being afraid. We know God is in charge and that we should trust Him to bring us safely through this situation. God says to us, “Fear not.” But this is because He knows we will be afraid until we put our trust in Him. Let the fear drive you into His loving arms.Fear is not there to cripple you but to be the means of experiencing the Father’s love for you. Even the great prophet Elijah experienced fear. Read about him in 1Kings 19. So don’t feel guilty when you are afraid, but let it be the trigger to bring you closer to God.

There is only one place to find perfect peace.  Listen to these words from Isaiah 26:3,4  "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusts in Thee.Trust you in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." I would recommend reading the rest of the chapter (after all you have plenty of time at the moment!!)   It is when you realize how great and wonderful God is and that you know Him as your Saviour and that you dwell on that thought, that you will begin to grow in confidence. This is the great and glorious God who made all things, who spoke the universe into being and lovingly created all things, including you.  When He created Adam and Eve He also placed your DNA into them to unfold thousands of years later.  Yes He was thinking of you at that time.  This is the tender Father who cares for us if we will just put our trust in Him. So if you place your trust in Him, stay your mind on Him He will give...

Did you think I was this super spiritual person, who sees God at work in everything and glides through life on a silver cloud, never perturbed by anything? Well that is not me.  I have to work at seeing the truth that God is indeed at work in everything, and at times I feel low and depressed.  Life isn't a bowl of roses and some times are harder than others.  We are all living in hard times the world over, but we in the West have to realize that we are still far better off than many in the third world.  Many of them have no prospect of a ventilator if they become ill.  My problem comes from getting very cold two days ago.  I hadn't realized how cold it was in the garden and by the time I went indoors I needed to put on a heavy fleece and to have a hot water bottle on my lap.  I began to think I might have a chill and that perhaps I was laying myself open to catching the corona virus.  I am used to short bouts of depression. But it makes me wonder ...

This is the term some have given to all those people in society who for one reason or another are not paying any tax into the treasury’s coffers. It includes those of pension age and forgets that they have paid a lifetime of taxes already. It also includes children and adults who will never pass an exam or do a day’s work because they are disabled in some way. What is also forgotten is that grand parents often help bring up their grandchildren and make it possible for the parents u to go to work. Apart from that the older generation can give much joy to their families. Disabled children are precious to their parents. These things cannot be measured with money. Some people think the country would be better off without these people, but perhaps it would be better not to have those who fill the Houses of Parliament with hot air and take a fat salary. Perhaps not, after all a human life is a very precious thing. A government’s job is to defend the rights of all under God and responsible to...

At night as I get ready to sleep, I find myself checking my breathing, wondering if my temperature is at all high. Any little cough is viewed with suspicion. And then in the morning I wake with a sense of relief that the virus has not overwhelmed me yet. It is natural to feel like this but in it all I have an inner peace which comes from knowing and trusting in Jesus. I know that the virus can only attack if this is what Jesus wants for me. As He will only do what is best for me, I can rest peacefully in that knowledge. After all if the virus kills me I will then be with my wonderful Saviour for ever and ever in heavenly bliss. This peace is available to all who will put their trust in Jesus. He says, “ Come unto Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of  Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden if light.”

If I was in charge of an important section of the world’s population and I had come to believe the way it was proceeding was untenable, in my view; I would get together with other world leaders and discuss what could be done.   How could the population be persuaded to give up their wasteful life style? Surely people who enjoyed three holidays abroad a year, spacious homes, evenings out, meals out, coffees out and drove large cars ; could not be easily persuaded to give up this lifestyle just because someone in authority thought it would be for the best. I wouldn’t be in a hurry to do this.   First with other world leaders I would get scientists involved and make sure that they were seen on news programmes explaining the ways in which the population’s lust for pleasure was killing the world, whether it was or not.   Congenial, smiling scientists would bring their statistics before the population night after night on T.V., often having whole programmes devoted to thei...